Fact: The majority of Israelis oppose an Israeli attack on Iran without U.S. backing, and many Israeli intelligence, military, and political officials have spoken out against an Israeli attack.
The majority of Israelis do not want Israel to attack Iran without the support of the United States:
- A March 2012 Haaretz poll found that 58 percent opposed an Israeli strike without U.S. backing.
- An August 2012 poll by the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University’s Evens Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution similarly found that 61 percent opposed such strikes, with only 27 percent in favor.
Top current and former Israeli military and political officials have spoken out strongly against an Israeli strike on Iran:
- Former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan: a future Israeli Air Force strike on Iranian nuclear facilities is “the stupidest thing I have ever heard.” (Haaretz, Former Mossad chief: Israel air strike on Iran ‘stupidest thing I have ever heard’, May 7, 2011)
- Former Mossad Chief Ephraim Halevy warned against an Israeli strike: “An attack on Iran could affect not only Israel, but the entire region for 100 years.” (Ynet, ‘Iran far from posing existential threat’, November 4, 2011)
- Former Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer: “Every citizen in the country has to be worried that these two fools, Netanyahu and Barak, are planning an attack on Iran.” (Forward, Israeli Democracy Questions War on Iran, November 8, 2011)
- Former Internal Security Chief Yuval Diskin: “…attacking Iran will encourage them to develop a bomb all the faster.” (Think Progress, Diskin says he has ‘no faith’ in current leadership, April 27, 2012)
- Former Defense Minister and Former IDF Chief of General Staff Shaul Mofaz: “Loss of life, grave damage to the home front and deep erosion of Israel’s political situation [would follow alongside an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities]—such action is immoral and operationally illogical under the circumstances.” (Haaretz, Mofaz demands clarifications from Netanyahu over his ‘intention to lead Israel into war with Iran’; August 20, 2012)
- Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor: “I don’t think Israel should use the military option. I don’t agree with some of my colleagues who support a military strike. An attack on Iran wouldn’t add anything to our security.” (NTI, Israeli Deputy PM Opposes Attack on Iran, April 18, 2012)
- Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: “The current situation does not require Israeli military action – now or in the near future.” (Ynet, Olmert: No reason to attack Iran now, August 12, 2012)
